Railway-vehicle track clamp



' July 13, 1926.

R. F. RITCHISON RAILWAY VEHICLE TRACK CLAMP Fil ed Sept. 27. 1924 2 Sheds-Shoot 1 July 13 1926.

1,592,000 R. F. RITCHISON RAILWAY VEHICLE TRACK CLAMP Filed Sept. 27. 1924 2 Shuts-Sheet 2 glrmmnfog Til 0Z5 Qa'tohidovu 3% MLQM (like nu Patented July 13.

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ROLL F. RITCHISGN, CF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

RAILXVAY-VEEICLE TRACK CLAMP.

Application filed September This invention relates to clamps and particularly to those clamps used in holding wheels of railroad rolling equipment to the rails while work is being done upon the bearings.

It often becomes necessary to change the brasses in the journal boxes of ailroad cars, without withdrawing the cars from service.

In performing this operation. a jack is placed under the journal box and the jack operated to lift the same. Unless provision is made to prevent the wheel from being raised, it will be impossible to obtain sutticient clearance between the axle and the journal box to remove the old brass and insert a new one. In order to prevent this raising of the wheels, it is customary on some railroads to use wooden blocks between the floor of the car and the wheel. This necessitates the use of blocks of difierent thickness since the clearance, between the Wheels and floor, varies with the cars of difterent types. In the steel hopper and tank types of cars, there is no floor which can be used for this purpose and other means have to be provided.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved means for securing the wheel of a railway vehicle to the track while the journal box is being raised for the replacement of its brass or for other purposes.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an improved clamp for securing the wheel of a railway vehicle to the track while the journal box is being raised.

Another and further object of this invention is the provision of a U-shaped clamping member for holding the wheel upon the track, while the journal box is raised, provision being made for securing various wheels having flanges of difierent radial thickness.

Referring to the drawing wherein I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my invention indicating the way it is used, parts of the car being broken away for the sake of clearness,

Figs. 2 to 41 are cross sections of my improved clamp in place coacting with a rail and car wheel flange and illustrating the adjustment block in place, but in different positions in the respective figures,

27, 1924.. Serial No. 740,408.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the main body of the clamp,

Fig. 6 is a side view of the adjustment block,

Fig. 7 is a cross section on the line 7? 01 Fig. 6.

Like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the several views.

In Fig. 1, 10 designates the road bed, 11 the ties, 12 a section of rail. 13 a car wheel, 14 its axle and 15 the journal box which carries within the brass and which transmits the weight of the car to the bearing portion of the axle.

Referring particularly to Figs. 5 to 7, 20 designates generally the clamp having an upper wheel flange engaging member 21 and a rail engaging member 22. The rail engaging member 22 is longer than the wheel enaging member 21 and has a cut away portion 23 for cooperation with a tongue 24 ot the adjustment block 25. At the. outer end of the adjustment block 25 are projections 26 which serve a purpose to be later described.

In Fig. 1. I have shown the invention in use where the distance from the upper side of the wheel flange to the lower side of the rail head is equal to or slightly less than the opening in the clamp between the members 21 and 22. In this instance. the adjustment block is not used. the clamp being placed so as to hold the wheel flange to the rail. between the members 21 and In Fig. 2. I have shown the use of the clamp where the span between the upper side of the wheel flange and the lower side of the rail head is greater than the span of the clamp by the thickness of the adjustment block 25.

In Fig. 3. I have shown the use of the adjustment block when the wheel flange is thinner or the thickness of the rail head is less or both. In this instance. the adjustment block is turned with the projections 24- and 26 downwardly so that the projection 24 extends into the opening 23 and the projections 26 are outside of the outer edges of the lower portion 22 of the clamp.

If it is necessary to have the adjusting block take up a still greater space. the projections 24: and 26 are turned upwardly against the rail flange as shown in Fig. 4. In this way. the full thickness of the adjustment block is utilized.

It will thus be seen that the clamp and adjustment block provide for four different adjustments. Any smaller changes are unimportant since it is immaterial if the wheel is lifted a short distance.

After the clamp is adjust-ed in place, the jack 30 is placed on a support as the block 61, preferably with the handle 32 against the clamp to hold it securely in place. The jack is then operated in the usual manner. As soon as the weight is taken by the ack, the latter holds the clamp in place and. prevents its being pressed outwardly by the lifting of the wheel.

As a convenience in carrying the clamp and adjustment block, there are provided openings 35 and 36 which are of suflicient size to permit passage of the adjustment block therethrough. The block is turned so that the projections 24 and 26 are toward the open side of the clamp. The clamp is then brought into relation to the jack handle so that when the block is inserted through the openings 35, 36, it will pass through the handle of the jack. The weight of the clamp, holds the projections 26 in engagement with the edge of the openings so that accidental displacement is minimized.

It is thus clear that I have provided a clamp which will be simple of operation, cheap of manufacture and without wearing parts to get out of order.

While I have described and shown in detail an embodiment of my invention, I desire to have itunder-stood that I do not limit myself to the exact structure shown and that modifications and changes may be made without departingfrom the spirit of my invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is z 1. A clamping means for securing a railway vehicle wheel having a flange, to a track rail comprising a U-shaped member having a portion for extending over the wheel flange and a portion for extending under a part of the rail, one of the portions being cut away, an adjustment block having a projection cooperating with one of the portions where the same is cut away to provide one adjustment, the block having a thickness to provide another adjustment when on its side and a height to provide a third adjustment when inserted in an erect position.

2. A clamping means for securing a railway vehicle wheel having a flange, to a track rail comprising a U-shaped memberhaving a portion for extending over the wheel flange and a portion for extending under a part of the rail, the latter portion being cut away, an adjustment block having a projection cooperating with one of the portions where the same is cut away to provide one adjustment, the block having a thickness to provide another adjustment when on its side ann a height to provide a third adjustment when inserted in an erect position.

3. A. clamping means for securing a railway vehicle wheel having a flange, to the head i a rail comprising a U-shaped member having a portion for extending over the wheel flange and a portion for extending under the head of the rail and a shii'table removable block for insertion between the two portions of the U-shaped member to contact with one side of the o -shaped memher to provide for various thicknesses of wheel flange and rail heads.

4. A clamping means for securing a rail way vehicle wheel having a flange, to the head of a rail comprising a U-shaped meld her having a portion for extending over the wheel flange and a portion for extending under the head of the rail and a shittabl tate transoortation of the clamp and securing the block thereto.

In testnnonywhereot I hereunto afiiz: my

signature. V

ROLL F. RITCHISON. 

